CSIRO executive director Dr David Williams said the establishment of a lunar base was not as far-fetched as it seemed.

"I think it should be achievable. If you look at the US position, the President has declared that a lunar base is a prerequisite for going to Mars, and he has changed the focus of NASA to try and do a lunar base," he said.

ASA head Dr Megan Clark said it initially planned to build an orbital lunar space station.